GM wants to sell 20% more plug-in hybrids

2013 Chevrolet Volt

PHOTO: Handout, GM

By John LeBlanc, Postmedia News

Originally published: March 1, 2013

SMALL

MEDIUM

LARGE

After a 2012 that saw temporary production shutdowns due to weak demand, a report from Bloomberg says U.S. automaker General Motors wants to up its plug-in hybrid production by 20%, or 36,000 globally, for 2013.

Last year, GM sold around 30,000 copies of its Chevrolet Volt in North America (1,225 in Canada) and Opel Ampera in Europe. Later this year, GM plans to start production of the 2014 Cadillac ELR (a two-door coupe that uses the Volt’s powertrain) at the Volt’s U.S. plant.

Originally, GM had planned on selling 45,000 Volts in the U.S., but last year’s numbers rang in at less than half that total.